Last season under Redknapp, Tottenham were knocked out in the group stages of the competition, despite facing seemingly easy opponents PAOK Salonika, Shamrock Rovers and Rubin Kazan.

Redknapp often fielded inexperienced players in the tournament but his successor has insisted he will be fielding a ‘strong team’.

This season’s campaign begins when Lazio visit White Hart Lane on Thursday and Villas-Boas said: ‘This competition is very important.’

He added: ‘It gives access to the European Super Cup and, for me, I always thought it was a prestigious competition and it should be promoted like that because after the Cup Winners’ Cup disappeared, it is not only about the Champions League.

‘If we can win a trophy, that represents a lot for Tottenham Hotspur’s history as well and would be something really special.’

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At the start of last season, Redknapp described the competition as an ‘absolute killer’, adding: ‘You have to go to crazy places in this Europa League, all over the place.’

The differences between the two managers are becoming more stark as time goes by and full-back Kyle Walker recently talked up the improvements in training methods.

Redknapp, in a dig at managers in the Villas-Boas mould, said last week: ‘These days you are getting 70-page dossiers on this and that. B******* can baffle brains at times.’

The Portuguese boss, who won the Europa League at Porto in 2010, responded: ‘I am not sure if Harry was mentioning that about Jose Mourinho but, if he is, I find it strange.’